Jaye didn’t have that problem. «They’ve confirmed it, Caretaker!» the Keshiri squeaked, abacus shaking in his hand. «My calculations about the Sandpipes—»
«— Aren’t important right now,» Hilts said, «unless you intend to grab a cloth and help clean them.» He regarded the young women at their work. At least some parts of the room would look good. «We’ve got twelve days. We’ll be ready.»
The clerk bit his lip. «Can we really be ready? This… this is a mystical convergence. No — a holy one.»
Hilts rolled his eyes. Jaye didn’t just love his numbers; he feared them, too. This year was a first for the Tribe. Testament Day wasn’t the only such memorial— and Yaru wasn’t the only Korsin. Daughter Nida had reigned for a record seventy-nine years after her father, and her elevation to Grand Lord was commemorated with a monthlong festival on the grounds outside the palace every seventy-nine years. Even Hilts hadn’t been around for the last one.
«Don’t you see, Caretaker?» Abacus shells rattled as Jaye worked another calculation. «It’s been one thou- sand nine hundred seventy-five years since Grand Lord Korsin transcended this existence and Nida succeeded him — and that’s seventy-nine times twenty-five! This is the first time Testament Day and Nida’s Rise have ever fallen in the same year!» Eyes darting to the side, he lowered his voice to a whisper. «The first time, ever.»
«Ever!» Hilts clutched his pale purple companion by the shoulders in mock seriousness, causing Jaye to drop his counting frame to the stone floor. «So what you’re telling me — is that we’ll save on wine this time!» Hilts released Jaye and slapped his cheek lightly. «We don’t need any more omens, Jaye. We’ve got one, up on the mountain, remember? And no one’s allowed inside that.»
Hilts walked toward his private office, leaving his aide to stare blankly at the abacus.
«But, Caretaker—»
«Overreacting, Jaye.»
«But what about what I learned about the Sand-pipes?»
«Don’t start that again!» Hilts stepped into his office and looked with relief at his chair. Yes, that was the answer. After a morning like this, it would be a relief to sit in silence and drink some—
Voices rose outside in the atrium. Slamming his half-filled glass down to the desk in disgust, Hilts yelled over his shoulder at the commotion. «Jaye, I told you to quiet down!»
«That’s funny,» responded a husky female voice. «I just told him the same thing.» Hilts turned to see a black-clad woman in her late twenties, holding a gleaming red lightsaber just beneath Jaye’s neck. Golden eyes alive with dark intelligence, she spoke. «We have to talk, Caretaker — and I hate being interrupted.»
She stood a full two meters, easily taller than Hilts. Bright red hair, neatly coiffed; flawless pink skin. She would have fared well in Seelah Korsin’s inspections, centuries before, Hilts thought. And that was the whole point.
The intruder led Hilts back to the atrium, where he saw half a dozen similarly clad women, all perfect specimens of humanity themselves, threatening the huddled workers with lightsabers. She spoke again. «Of course, you know me.»
«Only by reputation,» he said, throat sandy. He’d never gotten to taste his drink. «I don’t get out much.»
«I can see that.» The woman smiled primly and deactivated her lightsaber. «Iliana Merko. And these are my fellow Sisters of Seelah.»
«I don’t think Seelah Korsin had any sisters,» Hilts said, regarding the beauties guarding his Keshiri.
«Sisters in spirit.» Iliana strode confidently ahead, crushing Jaye’s abacus underfoot as she did. The mathematician was with the others, now, prone on the floor but safe. Boot heels clacking against the marble, Iliana surveyed the glass statues lining the atrium. All depicted either Yaru or Nida Korsin. Iliana didn’t look pleased.
«Sorry,» Hilts said. «They took out the Seelah statues after — after what happened, years ago.» He assumed she knew about the failed coup Seelah had plotted with Jariad against her husband, Yaru. To members of Iliana’s faction, it was like yesterday. «I don’t think they kept any Seelah pieces at all.»
«I’m not surprised. No one gave our lady the respect she deserved. She founded the Tribe, you know — not these traitors.» Glaring at a glass representation of Yaru Korsin, Iliana’s expression melted to puzzlement. «Did he really look like that?»
«Back then, the Keshiri sculptors were still figuring out how to get human eyes right.» Hilts cautiously stepped toward her. The woman didn’t seem to be in any hurry, and he chose to think that boded well for his survival. But then, it wasn’t as if she was going to be interrupted. Who ever came here?
«You know why I’m here,» she said, facing him.
«The Testament won’t be read for twelve days yet. Why are you here now?»
She stepped briskly toward him. «We have to talk about what Korsin’s Testament says,» she said. «Before the others arrive.»
Hilts couldn’t help but laugh. «You know what the Testament says. Everyone does. It’s been transcribed so many times—»
Iliana charged forward, igniting her lightsaber and waving the tip just under the caretaker’s hairy chin. «Of course we know! But this is different. This Testament Day, this reading — somehow, it’s become a conclave.»
His eyes narrowed. «The Pantheon’s Peace.»
«Exactly.»
It suddenly made sense to Hilts. For centuries, Testament Day and the reading had been the one time that the Tribe’s entire hierarchy met peaceably under one roof — that of the palace atrium — to hear their late founder’s words spoken. Even after the Sith splintered, deference to the great leaders of the past had been enough to bring the various faction leaders together at one time. No one dared make the meeting an opportunity for mayhem; some now regarded Korsin almost as a magical being, able to influence events from beyond the grave. Their forebears had walked in the stars.
«All my rivals will be here,» Iliana said, still threatening with the lightsaber. «Some believe that in the Testament, they’ll hear support for their cause — an endorsement from a dead man.» She looked back up at the statue and sneered. «Well, we all know what it is — a boring old speech rewarding his allies for helping him thwart Seelah.»
Hilts swallowed. No, Iliana and her allies wouldn’t find much to like in Korsin’s dying speech. The leader had only mentioned Seelah to banish her. Some of the other groups might find some support for their own claims to power in Korsin’s words — but the Sisters wouldn’t.
«That’s why, old man, I want you to change what’s in the Testament.» Iliana closed the remaining few foot- steps between them and looked down on the caretaker. She smiled. «Change it — to favor us.»
He held her gaze for a moment. «You’re serious.»
«Deadly.» Twirling, she stepped away, dousing her lightsaber again. «I know about you, Wilts—»
«That’s Hilts.»
«— you and your little workers here exist to dig up worthless trivia. Well,» she said, turning, «you’re going to reveal that you’ve discovered the true Testament — one declaring that Seelah and those who follow her teachings today are the legitimate heirs to power on Kesh.»